Spent the Evening at Mr. Edd. Quincy’s, with Mr. Wibird, and my Cozen Zab. Mr. Quincy
told a remarkable Instance of Mr. Ben. Franklin’s Activity, and Resolution, to improve
the Productions of his own Country, for from that source it must have sprang, or else
from an unheard of Stretch of Benevolence to a stranger. Mr. Franklin, happening upon
a Visit to his Germantown Friends, to be at Mr. Wibirts Meeting, was asked, after
Meeting in the afternoon, to drink Tea, at Mr. Quincys. The Conversation turned upon
the Qualities of American soils, and the Different Commodities raised in these Provinces.
Among the rest, Mr. Franklin mentioned, that the Rhenish Grape Vines had been introduced,
into Pensylvania, and that some had been lately planted in Phyladelphia, and succeeded
very well. Mr. Quincy said, upon it, I wish I could get some into my Garden. I doubt
not they would do very well in this Province. Mr. Franklin replied, Sir if I can supply
you with some of the Cuttings, I shall be glad to. Quincy thanked him and said, I
dont know but some time or other I shall presume to trouble you. And so the Conversation
passed off. Within a few Weeks Mr. Quincy was surprised with a Letter from some of
Franklins friends in Boston, that a Bundle of these Rhenish slips were ready for him.
These came by Water. Well, soon afterwards he had another Message that another Parcell
of slips were left for him by the Post. The next Time Mr. Franklin was in Boston Mr.
Quincy waited on him to thank him for his slips, but I am sorry Sir to give you so
much Trouble. Oh Sir, says Franklin the Trouble is nothing Sir, to me, if the Vines
do but succeed in your Province. However I was obliged to take more Pains than I expected
when I saw you. I had been told, that the Vines were in the City but I found none
and was obliged to send up to a Village 70 miles from the City for them. Thus he took
the Trouble to hunt over the City, and not finding Vines there, he sends 70 miles
into the Country, and then sends one Bundle by Water, and least they should miscarry
another by Land, to a Gentleman whom he owed nothing, and was but little acquainted
with, purely for the sake of Doing Good in the World by Propagating the Rhenish Wines
thro these Provinces. And Mr. Quincy has some of them now growing in his Garden. This
is an Instance too of his amazing Capacity for Business. His Memory and Resolution.
Amidst so much Business as Counsellor, Post Master, Printer, so many private studies,
and so many { 126 } | view Publick Avocations too, to remember such a transient Hint and exert himself, so in
answer to it, is surprising.2

This Rhenish Wine is made of a Grape that grows in Germany upon the River Rhine and
from which it receives its Name, and is very famous, all over Europe. Let me remember
to look in Chambers, under Rhenish and in Salmons Geography, under the Produce of
the Countries upon the Rhine, for more Particulars of this Vine and Grape, and Wine.
The soil it delights in, the Method of Cultivation, what digging, what Manure, what
Pruning &c. Let me ask Mr. Quincy, whether the soil of his Garden suits them? and
what sorts and how many [sorts?]3 of Grapes he has? Dont they require more Heat than we have for them? Where he got
his other slips. Where he got his Lime Trees? &c.

1. First entry in “Paper book No. 5” (D/JA/5). This booklet, an assemblage of stitched
gatherings from which the threads have now largely worn away, contains somewhat irregular
entries from 26 May to 25 Nov. 1760.

2. In an interesting letter to Edmund Quincy from London, 10 Dec. 1761, Franklin touched
on the subject of American viniculture. This letter, lacking part of its text, was
found among the Adams Papers and was printed by CFA in a footnote to the present Diary entry (JA, Works, 2:82). It is now in MHi:Misc. Bound MSS.